Can opener cutter wheel carrier assembly



May 23, v1961 R; E. MCLEAN 12,984,904

CAN OPENER CUTTER WHEEL CARRIER ASSEMBLY Filed Jan. 2, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Pobe/ E. Mc edf? May 2,3, 19u61 R. E. McLEAN 2,984,904

CAN OPENER CUTTER WHEEL CARRIER ASSEMBLY l Filed Jan. 2, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E" A 229- `1; 26d 23h 2id f 2 e .Z6 I l 25 25h 27 Eff' 9' INVENTOR.

Robe/4f E. McLean of the cutter wheel.

United StatesA Patent G i CAN OPENER CUTTER WHEEL CARRIER ASSEMBLY Robert E. McLean, Raytown, Mo., assignor to John C. plckery, trustee for Henry J. Talge and Foster L.

Filed Jan. 2, 1959, Ser. No. 784,489

9 Claims. (Cl. Sil-15.5)

This invention relates to can openers wherein a cutter wheel cooperates with a feed wheel to cut a can and refers more particularly to an improved cutter Wheel carrier assembly -for use in such type of can opener.

Conventional can openers are well known in which the cooperating feed wheel of the can opener is elevated toward the cutter wheel, to a fixed predetermined point, whereby to eiect the piercing of the end of the can and to position the feed wheel vertically, with respect to the cutter Wheel. Rotation of the feed Wheel, after it is so elevated, effects the cutting of a can engaged by the cutter and feed wheels by the cutter wheel. Certain problems, however, arise in this construction or its variation in which a cutter wheel is raised or lowered relative a xed vrotatable feed wheel to engage and cut a can.

Thus, for example, it is desirable to provide means for continually urging the cutter Wheel vertically toward the feed wheel in the can cutting process to vertically squeeze the rim or ange of the can between the conventional grooved hub portion of the cutter wheel and the teeth of the feed wheel in order to provide good traction of the teeth of the feed wheel with the under edge of the can rim or flange for efficient feeding of the can during the cutting of the end thereof by the cutter wheel. However, some vertical play is preferably permitted between the feed and cutter wheels to conform to can rim irregularities and varying heights of can rims. Additionally, it is eminently desirable at all times to continually urge the cutter wheel blade laterally toward the face of the feed wheel to cut the can as close to the can rim as possible and maintain the cutter wheel laterally spaced or positioned, with respect to the face of the feed wheel, at a predetermined spacing, at all times. Some lateral movement of either the feed wheel or the cutter wheel should be possible, however, relative the other Wheel when the'side seam portion of the can (which is of substantially additional thickness) is passing between the face of the feed wheel and the overlapping portion Conventional can openers may aecomplish none of these features or some of them, but

rarely all of them in combination or to the degree and Vuniformly cut the can as close to the rim thereof as possible.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved can opener cutter wheel carrier assembly which readily permits passing of the side seam between the feed and cutter Wheels without losing traction or defeating the Yliaternted May 23, 1961 purpose of continuously positioning the cutter wheel face tt a predetermined spacing relative to the feed wheel ace.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improvide cutter wheel carrier assembly and mounting which provides vertical gripping force between the cutter and feed wheels yet allows for can rim height irregularities and can rims of differing heights.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved can opener cutter wheel carrier assembly which simultaneously and continuously operates to vertically squeeze the can rim between the cutter wheel hub and the feed wheel, force the cutter blade toward the feed wheel face and maintain a proper spacing therebetween and, also, permits passing of the side seam between the feed and cutter wheels without defeating the former two functions.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide an improved can opener cutter wheel carrier unit wherein the carrier unit is pivotally mounted in the can opener body yet wherein there is a minimum of friction between the cutter wheel carrier unit and the can opener body in which the carrier unit is positioned.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved can opener cutter wheel carrier assembly which is relatively simple, relatively cheap, relatively easy to manufacture, rugged and has a long life under hard use, and wherein the parts thereof are readily accessible for cleaning, repair or replacement.

Still another object of the instant invention is to provide a can opener cutter Wheel carrier improvement which may be readily employed in conventional types of can openers and can opener designs Without substantial change in shape and size thereof.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved can opener cutter Wheel carrier construction which may be inserted or employed in either wall or hand operated type can openers.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear in the course of the following description thereof.

In the drawings, which form a part of the instant specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith, an embodiment of the invention is shown and, in the various views, like numerals are employed to indicate like parts.

Fig. 1 is a side View of a hand-operated can opener employing the inventive cutter wheel carrier unit.

Fig. 2 is a partial View of the opposite side of the can opener of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view taken along the lines 3-3 of Fig. l in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a view taken along the lines 4-4 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing two normally interengaged parts of the inventive cutter wheel Vcarrier assembly or unit disengaged for the purposes of illustration. Y

Fig. 6 is a top view of the cutter wheel carrier block with the springs removed in the plane of the cutter blade.

Fig. 7 is a bottom view of the cutter wheel carrier block of Fig. 6 with the link removed in the plane of the cutter blade.

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of the cutter wheel carrier block with the link inserted and in a first extreme position.

' Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view of the cutter wheel carrier block with the link inserted and in a second extreme position.

Fig. 10 is a side view of the hand operated can opener of Fig. l with the holding handles thereof opened beyond extreme operating position and the cutter wheel carrier block removed from the upper holding handle. A

Y Referring iirst to FiguresV 1, 2 and 1,0, therein is shown the invention embodied in a hand-operated can opener. It should be understood that the invention is not limited to application in this type of can opener and the showing in. such manner is merely illustrative. The can opener shown in these figures has an upper grasping handle and a lower grasping handle' 11 which are hinged together at their front ends 10a and 11a by pin 1,2. Upper handle 10 has an undersurface 10b (Fig. l0) which abuts the upper surface 11b of the lower handle and also`has side recess 10c to receive gude'llc therein. The back side Y11d of the lower handle ts behind the upper handle 10 when the holding handles are 'closed as in Fig. 2 whereby to also aid in precisely Vpositioning the upper handle relative the lower handle.

. Referring first to the lower handle 11, wherein is carried a relatively conventional feed wheel operating mechanism, bushing 13 (Fig. 3) receives drive shaft 14 for the feed wheel 15. Feed wheel 15 threads onto the outwardly threaded lesser diameter portion 14a ofthe drive shaft 14. A thrust washer 16 is positioned on portion 14a of the drive shaft 14 between the inner face ofthe feed wheelV 15 and the side face of handle 11. Shim washers (not shown) and in the required number, can be inserted between the feed wheel 15 and the thrust washer 16 to obtain theA desired lateral spacing between the face of the feed wheel 15 and the adjacent overlapping portion of the cutter wheel to be described. Feed wheel 15 has toothed portion 15a thereon. The opposite end 14b of drive shaft 14 extends from the handle 171, is of lesser ldiameter and is threaded. This receives operating crank or handle 17. Spring washer -18 and thrust washer 19 are positioned between the handle 11 and the feed wheel operating handle 17. Spring washer 18 provides the desired frictional relationship between the feed wheel and the lower handle 11.

Referring to the upper grasping handle 10, a recess 19 (Fig. l0) of substantially rectangular form is provided therein having bottom wall 119g, upperpwall 19b, side walls 19e` and 19d and rear wall 19e therein. A portion of the upper holding handle 10 is provided as at 20 (Fig. 3) which extends slightly upwardly from the floor 19a o f the recess 19 for a purpose to be later described. Two holes 10d are provided in the upper holding handle through which screws 21 and 22 are inserted to secure the inventive cutter carrier assembly within the handle.

Turning to the cutter carrier block 23, hole 24 receives arbor or stud 25 for the cutter wheel 26. Screw 27 threads into arbor 25 to secure cutter wheel 26 thereon. Washer 28 is inserted between the headY of the screw 27 and the end of the cutter wheel arbor 25. Washer 29 is positioned between thecutter wheel hub-26a and the face 23a of the cutter carrier block 23. Y i p Wells 30 and 31, which are circular in cross section at the bottoms-thereof and become morev oval toward their upper endsl whereby'to provide a greater width ,in a single direction to permit tilting of springs 32 and 33 therein, are provided in the upper face of block 23. i The upper face 23b of the cutter carrier V23 Vis angledV downwardly from the line 23a` (Fig.v3). The underside of the cutter carrier block includes Aforward ledge 23d, secondary ledge 23eand undersurface 23h. The angled front face 23a of the cutter carrier block is recessed twice as at 23g and 23h to receive washer 29 and cutter wheel hub 26a.Y A first recess 34 is provided acrosslhe rearl face 231' v(Fig. 5) of cutter' carrier Yblock V23 to receivethe main body portion 35 of link 36. Lug 37, however, isV Vleft `on block 23 to engage the Vinnermost portion. 39 of Vthe innerrnostvport-ion- 39 ofthe arrn- 38 'oflink 36. The

depthof the link; 36 at its greatestjheight portion is greater than the depthvof'the recess 3.4. rIfhe depthf; the recess 40 is greater` than the vthicknessof Ythe innermost prtio'n '15 39 of arm 38 on link 36 whereby to permit tilting movement of the link 36 as seen in Fig. 8 and Fig. 9.

Spring seat plate 41 having downwardly canted shelf portion 42 is provided with thread screw holes 41a therein to receive screws 21 and 22 on the top of top handle 10. Spring guides v43, secured in canted shelf portion 42 of the spring plate 41, are provided to overlie the wells 30 andl 31, with the under face of the canted portion of the spring plate normally substantially parallel to the bottorn ofthe wells 30 and 31. If desired, these guides 43 may be extruded from the plate 41. Coil compression springs 32 and 33 are received in wells 30 and 31.

Shelf 23e seats downwardly on the floor 19a of the recess 19 in the upper holding handle 10 at all times except when a can is engaged in the can opener. The top portion 23b seats upwardly against the overlying spring seat plate v41 whenever an upward thrust greater than the resistanceoiered by the springs 32 and. 33 is applied to cutter wheel 26, .such as might be had whenY piercing the end of a can by the cutter wheel 26.

ln operation of the embodiment of the invention illus.- trated in the drawings, the two holding handles 10 and 11 are Aiirst separated from each other to the extreme position. A nose portion of handle 10 willengage an underlying portion of handle 11 to limit opening ofthe handles to desired extent. The can opener is then placed on a can (not shown) with the periphery of the cutter wheel 26 resting on the end of the can. The two holding handles 10 and 11 are then squeezed together to the extreme position, in which position the underside 10b of upper holding handle .10 engages the upper side 11b of the lower holding handle 11 to limit the movement of the handies toward one another. As the two handles 10 and 11 are squeezed together, the cutter carrier block 23, against the preselected pressure of the two coil compression springs 32 and 33, will be rotated clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 3, taking its fulcrum at the bottom edge of the floating fulcrum link 36. During this rotation, the floating fulerum link 36 rocks with the cutter carrier block 23. If the resistance oiered by the springs 32 and 33 in inadequate to cause the cutter wheelf26 to pierce the end of the can, then the surface 23b of the cutter carrier block 23 will seat upwardly against the overlying spring seat plate 41 and squeezing of the two holding handles. to the extreme closed position will then'positively cause the cutter wheel 26 to penetrate the end of the can.

After the end of the can has been pierced bythe cutter wheel 26, pressure ofthe springs 32 and 33 is such as to cause the rim of the can to be vertically squeezed Vbetween the toothed periphery of the feed wheel 15 and the overlying grooved portion of the cutterwheel so that the teeth of the feedwheel will be sufficiently embedded in the under edge of the rim or flange of the can to provide eticient traction between theV teeth of the feed Wheel and the rim of the can for feeding ofthe can inv respect to the cutter wheel to eiect shearing of the end of the can by the said cutter wheel. The downward thrust or force imparted to the cutter wheel by the springs 32 and 33 is resilient and yieldable, so the Vvertical space existing'between the periphery of the. feed wheel and the grooved overlying portion 2617 of the cutter wheel 26 will not only conform to any irregularities in the height of the rim ofVV the can, but the space will vary as necessary to conform to the heights of rims of different cans.

Due to the canted position or Nalignment of springs 32 and 33, said alignment being selective in manufacture, springsV 32 and 33 Ynot only exert a downward force on the cutter'carrier block 23, but also exert an inwardly directed force on the saidY cutter carrier block 23, The selection of position of angularity or alignment inmanufacture determines the ratio of the inwardly directed force to that of the downwardly directed force, the total force of the springs 32 and 33 being distributed downwardly and inwardly in said ratio, The Vamount of inwardly directed force is sufcent to normally maintain the overlapping or blade portion 26 of the cutter wheel spaced laterally away from the face of the feed wheel 15 a preselected distance (such as will provide the most etheient operation of the can opener). This preferred spacing is attained in assembly of the can opener by insertion of required shim or shims, between the feed wheel 15 and the thrust washer 16.

It should be understood that whenever a can is engaged in the can opener and the two holding handles are squeezed together to the extreme position, the surface 23e of the cutter carrier block 23 will not seat on the underlying portion 19a of the upper holding handle 10 and the surface 23b of the cutter carrier block 23 will not seat upwardly against the overlying portion of the spring seat plate 41. However, the innermost portion 23 of the cutter carrier block and the underlying oating fulcrum link 36 on which it bears can have no appreciable up and down movement in the recess 19 of the upper holding handle When the side seam of the can is passing between the face of the feed wheel and the overlapping portion 26 of the cutter wheel, cutter block 23, against the inwardly directed and yieldable force of springs 32 and 33 is substantially frictionlessly free to move outwardly as required to permit the thick side seam of the can to pass between the said face of feed wheel 15 and the overlapping portion 26 of the cutter wheel but is immediately urged back to the illustrated position by the inwardly directed force of said springs 32 and 33 as soon as the side seam has passed between the face of the feed wheel and the overlapping portion of the cutter wheel.

Undesirable friction that otherwise would impede the free inward and outward movement of the cutter carrier block 23 is further minimized by use of the floating fulcrum link 36. As block 23 moves inwardly or outwardly, it seats, for rocking movement, on the top edge of the floating fulcrum link 36, link 36 seating, for rocking movement, on the oor 19a of the recess 19 of the upper holding handle 10. Portion of the upper holding handle 10 limits the movement of the link 36 toward the rear wall 19e and, in turn, block 23, inasmuch as block V23 also normally seats inwardly against the said fulcrum link 36. Lug portion 39 of the link 36 is positioned in the rear recess 40 of the block 23 and is maintained therein by the portion 37 of cutter carrier block 23. Accordingly, the carrier block 23 is maintained in desired position, for rocking movement, on the top edge of the fioating fulcrum link 36. Floating fulcrum link 36 is preferably produced from stock having Arounded edges to facilitate the rocking action.

Inwardly directed force of the springs 32 and 33 maintains the inner surface of the cutter carrier block 23 in longitudinal parallel alignment with the wall portion 19e of the upper holding handle 10, Guides 43 of the spring seat plate 41 maintain the upper ends of the springs 32 and 33 in the desired position while the lower ends of the said springs are maintained in desired position by the bottoms of the spring wells 30 and 31 of the block 23. In any operating position, only the bottom portions of the spring wells 30 and 31 of block 23 are in contact with the said springs 32 and 33, therefore assuring unimpeded action of the two springs.

After the end has been severed from the can, the two holding handles 10 and 11 are then separated to the extreme position to permit removal of the can opener from the can. Limitation of separation of one of the two holding handles from the other is accomplished by engagement of front end 10a of upper handle 10 with front portion 11a of lower handle 11 at a point selected on the side of the axis of the hinge pin 12 opposite to the side on which the feed wheel is positioned.

Thumb and finger key-type handle 17 facilitates rotation of the feed wheel 15 to feed the can in respect to the cutter wheel 26 to effectthe shearing of the end from the can.

' Although the oating fulcrum link is illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 with its bottom edge positioned vertically at a plane slightly above that of the uppermost point of the periphery of the feed wheel 15, it is to be understood that the bottom edge of the floating fulcrum link 36 can be positioned in any other desired horizontal plane in respect to the uppermost point of the periphery of the feed wheel. Accordingly, to substantially maintain the desired lateral spacing between the end face of the feed wheel 15 and the overlapping portion of the cutter wheel 26 as the cutter carrier block 23 rocks from one extreme position to the other extreme position, a preferred vertical positioning of the bottom edge of the oating fulcrum link 36 would be in the same horizontal plane as that of the uppermost point of the periphery of said feed Wheel 15.

The invention comprises the provision of the floating cutter wheel block and its mounting -assembly in the can opener frame. Thus the invention is not limited to a hand-operated type can opener having a pair of holding handles pivoted together as illustrated. In a can opener frame such as a wall type can opener, any means for (l) moving a feed wheel relative a fixed frame portion including the inventive cutter `wheel assembly, or (2) movable -member including the inventive cutter wheel assembly relative a fixed frame portion carrying a feed wheel could embody the invention.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the invention is one well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are inherent to the construction.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by `and is within the scope of the claims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter hereinabove set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. In a can opener having a frame, a cutter wheel rotatably mounted on said frame, a feed wheel rotatably mounted on said frame, means for rotating said feed wheel mounted on said frame, and ymeans for moving at least one of said cutter and feed wheels to and from the other said wheel also mounted on said frame, the improvement in mounting said cutter wheel on said frame which comprises a block fitting into and substantially filling a first recess in said frame, pivot means cooperating with said block in said recess to permit limited in and out movement of said block in said recess and also limited up and down movement of at least the outer portion of said block relative said frame, resilient means tending to resist both outward movement of said block relative said frame and upward movement of the outer portion of said block relative said frame, means for rotatably mounting said cutter wheel on the outer face of said block, and means for supporting said resilient means on said frame relative said block.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the pivot means comprises a link pivotally engaged with the lower inner portion of said block.

3. Apparatus as in claim l wherein said resilient means is received in the outer portion of said block and the means for supporting same relative said frame comprises a shelf fixed to said frame over said outer portion of said block.

4. Apparatus as in claim l including means in said recess spacing the inner wall of the block from the inner wall of the recess.

5. In a can opener frame having `a first portion thereof having a first recess therein, a block fitting into, Substantially filling, yet pivotally movable in said' rst recess, a cutter wheel, means for rotatably mounting said cutter wheel on the outer face of said block, at least one recess in said block, the base and body of said block Vrecess angled upwardly and outwardly relative to the base of the iirst recess, atleast one lange extending outwardly and downwardly from said can opener frame over said first recess, resilient means retained between and by said overlying flange and block recess base, means mounting said block for pivotal movement in said rst recess against said resilient means, a feed wheel rotatably mounted on a second portion'of the can opener frame, and means for moving at least one of said cutter and feed wheels to and from the other said wheel.

6. Apparatus as in claim wherein the means mounting said block for pivotal movementV in said recess against said resilient means also mounts said block for in and out movement in said recess relative said frame against said resilient means.

7. A can opener frame, a rst portion ofthe frame with a rst recess therein, a second portion of the frame with a feed Wheel rotatably mounted thereon, a cutter v block mounted in said first recess, substantially filling said first recess yetV pivotally movable therein, a cutter wheel rotatably mounted on a portion of said block outside of said rst recess, at least one recess in said block, at least one flange extending outwardly and downwardly from said can opener frame over said first recess, resilient means cooperating between said ange and the base of said block recess tending to maintain said' blockV in said first recess in a rst position against pivotal movement of said block in said first recess, means for moving at least one of said cutter and feed wheels to and from the other said wheel, and means mounting said block for pivotal movement in said rst recess against said resilient means.

8. In a can opener having a frame, a cutter wheel rotatably mounted on said frame, a feed wheel rotatably 'mounted yon said frame, means for rotating said feel wheel mounted on said frame, and means for moving at least one of said cutter and feed wheels to and from the other said wheel also mounted on said frame, the improvement in mounting said cutter wheel on said frame 8 which comprises a black. ttine intov substantially @1h-.Its

yet pivot-ally movable inA a tirstr recess in Vsaid frame,-

meansV mounting said block for pivotal movement in iirst'recess, means for rotatably mounting said` cutter wheelY on the outer face of said block, at least one recess in said block,` the base and body of' said Yblock recess angled upwardly andv outwardly relative the'base of the iirst recess, at least one flange extending outwardly and downwardly from said can opener frame oversaid first recess,` and resilient means retained between and by said overlying flange and block recess base operable to resist said pivotal movement of' said Iblock in said first recess. Y

9. In a can opener having a frame with a first recess therein, a block having a irst portion thereof fitting into and substantially filling said recess, la second portion of said `block extending from said recess, the iirst portion of said block formed relative to said'recessnvvhereby to permit limited pivotal up and down movement of the second portion of said block relative said frame, a cutter wheel, means for rotatably mounting saidr cutter wheel on the second portion of said block, pivot means cooperating with said block in said recess to'permit limited in and out movement'of said block in said vrecess and also limited up and down movement. of at least the second portion of said block, resilient means tending to resist both outward` movement of said block from said recess and upward movement of the second portion of said block relative said frame, means for supporting the resilient means on said frame relative the secondv portion'of said block, a feed wheel rotatably mounted on a second portion of the can opener frame, and means yfor moving at least one of said cutter and feed wheels to and from the other said wheel.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,486,314 Montgomery Oct. 25, 1949 2,609,599 Wilson Sept. 9, 1952 2,825,963 Sykes et al Mar. 1l, 1958 2,866,263 McLean Dec. 30, 1958 2,879,590 McLean Mar. 31, 1959 

